HEMLOCK, MI — Hemlock K.C. Ling Elementary students are joining hundreds of thousands of students in a nationwide reading challenge.

As many as 400 students at the elementary school aim to “Read the Most Coast to Coast” on Friday, Feb. 28. The third annual challenge encourages students to read more and help beat the record for the number of Renaissance Learning Accelerated Reader quizzes taken in one day. Students set a new one-day record of more than 4.4 million quizzes last school year.

“Read the most Coast to Coast is a fun-filled event that enables students at multiple grade levels to join in a shared reading challenge,” Hemlock K.C. Ling Principal Keith Green said in a prepared statement. “Students are engaging in valuable reading practice, all while taking part in an event that joins students across the country in a collaborative effort focused on reading. We’re so proud of our students.”

Accelerated reader is a grades K-12 program that serves as a platform for teachers to manage students’ independent reading practices. Students read books at the appropriate level then take a quiz to show they understand what they’ve read.

The Hemlock Parent-Teacher Organization in conjunction with the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support team has arraigned a month of activities for the students, including IMAX movie presentations, a read-a-thon and other book themed events.